Spiritual Parenting Thought for the Month (SM)
Brought to you by Mimi Doe
May, 2009
V11 #5
Overcoming Obstacles to Spiritual Connectedness
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This newsletter is my gift to you in the hopes of empowering children and parents everywhere to live more joyful, connected lives.
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SPIRITUAL CONNECTION
- Welcome From Mimi
- Overcoming Obstacles to Spiritual Connectedness
- What's New
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May greetings to you all!
I am SO very grateful for your incredible response to our Spiritual Parenting survey! I feel as if I know you on an even deeper level after reading literally thousands of your answers and thoughts. I will go through the comments much more carefully on Wednesday when I have set aside time to be in a quiet, fully present mode. We will also select one winner (well, you are ALL winners in my mind) to receive a ½ hour phone consultation with me. We will contact the winner via email.
If you haven’t yet taken the survey you still have time.
One consistent theme so many of you bring up is TIME or the lack of time to connect with those you love and with your own spirituality. This month’s newsletter addresses other obstacles to spiritual connection. Often, just naming what blocks us from our calm, ease, and joy can help shift us.
Most of us aren’t called or able to head off to a spiritual retreat or even find a spare half hour to meditate and pray. We can, however, find everyday ways to weave spirituality into our lives and the lives of our children.
Brew up a cup of tea (I love ordering various green teas from Adagio Teas), print out this week’s newsletter if you prefer reading a hard copy (I know from the survey that many of you do just that) and give yourself just 15 minutes to put up your feet, sip some tea, read this month’s newsletter, and feel the light of Spirit surround and infuse you with calm. Your patience, joy, and present moment awareness will flourish.
I thank you again for your wonderful input and promise to bring you what you asked for: helpful advice, material, resources, and YES inspiration. I adore you all!
Blessings and light from my heart to yours,
Mimi Doe
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Lean back with your eyes closed, your arms opened wide. Be there with all of life's mysteries. Welcome them into your life.
— Terry Bookman
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OVERCOMING OBSTACLES TO SPIRITUAL CONNECTEDNESS
A reporter, interviewing me for a parenting magazine, wanted to know what obstacles block families from creating a sense of spirituality. Not wanting to dwell on the negatives, I tried to refocus her to the natural, everyday opportunities parents have to create a sense of soulfulness within their families.
"It's really not hard," I assured her. "Anyone can weave spirituality into their family routine." But she insisted, "What keep people from getting there?" As I shifted my thinking to the people with whom I have worked, and feedback from this wonderful Spiritual Parenting community, I realized that there are indeed some consistent obstacles to creating a spiritual connectedness in families. See if any of the following feel familiar; then, explore it in detail. Becoming aware of our blocks can open the way to greater balance.
- Lack of time seems to be a consistent deterrent for creating balance. We are moving at a frenzied tempo - lessons, chores, sports - more, more, more. The habitual pace of constant motion becomes our rhythm. Families have a hard time honoring anything that doesn't have a quantitative result. "If it doesn't get me there faster or isn't on my list of To Do's, I don't have time for it." It's important to step out of that mentality and remember we can choose how we spend out time, and it is through out choices that we create a sense of the sacred within our families.
- We can become confused between spirituality and religion. Spirituality involves an awareness of a sacred connection to all creation and a choice to embrace that connection with love. It is the consciousness that relates us directly to God, who is much bigger than any one religion. Spirituality is not the dogma of organized religion, although organized religion provides a great deal to nurture a child's soul. Spirituality exists already - it is not something needs to be taught to our children. Look for everyday, ordinary ways to ignite spirituality – whether joining your child in brainstorming ways to reach out with kindness in his/her day or giving thanks each evening for the sun rising, then setting.
- Our own spiritual searching can get in the way of establishing a spiritual connection with our kids. We may question religion because of our past experience. If we aren't clear about our own beliefs, we may be reluctant to begin a dialogue with our children. Don't wait! Take your child's hand and begin a spiritual journey. Explore together rather than avoiding this essential aspect of your child's being. It is in the everyday that this spiritual connection is ignited. Don't let this obstacle hold you back. Light a candle during dinner tomorrow, join hands and go around the table giving thanks for one thing from the day. That's a start to gratitude which opens the gates for soulfullness to flow.
- A partner's lack of support can hold us back from forging a spiritual path for our family. A mother of three wrote: "When I light a candle in the morning and ask my kids to joint hands for a moment of silence, my husband just rolls his eyes." And a father of four told me how difficult it was to make time for church on Sundays because his wife wouldn't make the commitment with him. It can be tough to create a spiritual home when our partner doesn't join our efforts. We can't change people. We can, however, live our own spiritual lives boldly and strive to keep communication open. You are a mirror for your children and show them how spirituality and daily life merge. Mirror it authentically without dimming your light for fear of ridicule. Make an effort to communicate with your partner in the next few days, if you haven't already' discuss ways to merge your beliefs and begin fostering a shared sense of spirituality with your kids.
- Cool technology can diminish the worth of humans. It is our role to help kids remain connected to real people, not just email pals, chat room friends, or television characters. We must remember to use technology as a tool rather than an uninvited guest blasting into our homes. Keep the computer in a central place where you can use it together and the television in a spot that takes some effort to reach so that you use it more thoughtfully. Don't allow technology to squelch the less attention-getting but more profound inner spirit that is awaiting your child's discovery.
I love the quote by Rumi: “The fish in the sea is not thirsty.” Spirit is everywhere present…always available. You are just one breath away from manifesting all your dreams.
Don’t let any of the above obstacles keep you from connecting with Spirit day by day, moment by moment, in the ins and outs of parenting and a busy life. Let go of stress and feeling as if that's a normal state...Look at the picture above and change the type on her card from STRESS to EASE or GRACE.
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May you experience each day as a sacred gift woven around the heart of wonder.
— John O'Donohue
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THINGS I LOVE THESE DAYS
1. YouBars
I love foods that give me energy and power to move through my day. I also love knowing exactly what's in those foods if I didn't make them myself. Enter YouBars. I'm obsessed with this comany owned by a mother and son duo. You can create your own, custom bar as well as trail mix and smoothie mix. The bars are my current delight (I haven't yet tried their other produts). You also get to NAME your bar, no kidding. So, if you want to create a box of custom made bars with just the right natural ingredients for your middle schooler who loves almonds you can name it after her...or her sports team and then bring them to practice -- you'll be a hit!
AND, as you add ingredients the web page calculates calories, fiber, protein, etc right there on the screen!
I spoke with Anthony Flynn, the owner, and he has given us a discount code for 5% off anything they make!!! How cool is that. Just type in "HealthyEating" when you check out and you will automatically get the discount.
2. TED Talks
My husband Tom and I can't get enough of these free, inspirational 22 minute lectures by the world's leading thinkers. I love hearing Elizabeth Gilbert speak about finding her muse and my husband's favorite is Barry Schwartz speaking on decision making.
3. Dream Manifestation Wizard
I'll let the developer of these transformational products tell you about them in his own words as mine don't do justice:
Manifest any goal, desire or life dream with this new award winning audio and software program. A simple and highly efficient process, using the power of your intention combined with images and your own voice, to reprogram your mind for instant and lasting success.
This is an amazing gift of empowerment and will uplift you this month or anytime. If you have a dream, this will help manifest that dream. I spend time each week editing my Dream Manifestor images and lists as my dreams come true almost as fast as I can articulate and put them up!!
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WHAT I'M LISTENING TO THESE DAYS
Lately I've been listening to Steve Halperns OM Zone on my laptop as I work. It transports me to ease and calm. Check out this instrumental CD and I promise you will find a new serenity. What soothing music do you love? I need some new songs.
MIMI BLOGS
Click HERE to visit my Blog. You can bookmark it on Google to receive updates of new posts. Do leave comments and suggestions so we can have a virtual conversation. My daughter is traveling in Africa matching schools out in the bush with schools in the U.S. She's a college junior and devoted to Ghana, where she taught for four months at age 18.
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CREATE A YEAR OF DREAMS
Make ALL your dreams come true with the Dream Manifesto!
For YEARS I have been creating vision boards or treasure maps using poster boards and images of what
I would like to manifest in my life...Literally for about 24 years...
Up until now...
Now, since I'm on my computer so much of the time...I've installed this easy to use software, literally I had it up and running in less than 5 minutes, and my images are scheduled to appear with sound...that I've created...every few hours...reminding me of what I wish to focus upon...
It's crazy cool! In fact, I have had to delete most of the images I first put up as they HAVE COME TRUE. Time for new dreams!
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TREAT YOUR TEENAGERS TO STRESS FREE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS!
If your children are in high school, pick up a copy of my book: Don't Worry You'll Get In: 100 Tips for Stress Free College Admission. I believe that knowledge is power and have created various ways to help make the application and admissions process less stressful.
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CREATE A LIFE LIVED ON PURPOSE IN 2009
Busy but Balanced
Begin RIGHT NOW to craft a more balanced life!
This book takes you through the year, week by week...Full of tips, tools, ideas and inspiration for crafting a family life that is calm, centered, and full of joy!
Start 2009 with a committment and intention to craft a life of calm and ease. Dive into this weekly, inspirational guide for living a more meaningful life.
Your own new semester of sorts.
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Spiritual Parenting Thought for the Month (SM) is written and produced by Mimi Doe and Karen Adolphson. If you have any stories to share, questions or comments, please send them to: Editor@SpiritualParenting.com. We'd love to hear from you!
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Mimi Doe, Author of:
"Nurturing Your Teenager's Soul"
"Busy But Balanced"
"10 Principles for Spiritual Parenting"
"Drawing Angels Near"
http://www.SpiritualParenting.com
Copyright 2004-2009 Mimi Doe. All rights reserved.
